Flyers loan Kirill Ustimenko to HC Gomel
Make that six players the Flyers have now loaned overseas with the addition of Kirill Ustimenko.
Almost all of these names have one thing in common. All six players loaned out are likely to start the season in the AHL. And with the uncertainty of when that season will begun, the Flyers are allowing these players to stay in game shape in the mean time.
Kirill Ustimenko is the latest player to be sent overseas for the time being. He is heading back to his hometown to join HC Gomel of the Belarusian Extraliga. It will actually be his first time appearing in said league.
Despite being born in Gomel, he has never played in any leagues in Belarus. He has exclusively spent time in the Russian leagues, including the KHL, MHL, and VHL. He reportedly expressed a desire to represent Belarus internationally instead of Russia moving forward.
HC Gomel’s leading goaltender appears to be Andrei Grischenko. In nine games, he has posted a 1.92 GAA and a .930 SV%. Alexei Merzlov has also appeared in two games, collecting a 3.90 GAA and a .840 SV%.
So Ustimenko appears to be coming in to a team that looks like it already has a solid starting goaltender. But any playing time for him right now will be good as the AHL may not possibly start until February at this point.
The league still has a tentative date in December, but there have been reports that the AHL’s President/CEO may push that back a few months.
Ustimenko was likely to continue his time with the Phantoms next season. He appeared in five games, posting a 3.84 GAA and a .889 SV%. The stats make it appear as if he had a rough transition from the ECHL to the AHL.
And it was, in a way. He posted above a .900 SV% in the first two games before dipping below that in his last three appearances. He also gave up five goals in back to back games at the end of his season there.
He should get the chance again next season where he will likely spent more time in the AHL. Felix Sandstrom could also fight for the backup spot there. Alex Lyon, after re-signing with the Flyers, will likely hold down the starting goaltending duties to allow one of them to develop behind him.
Speaking of Sandstrom, he is now the only Flyers European player who has not been loaned out. It could be a matter of what team he would fit best on. But he will likely take the same direction as the six players who have already been loaned out.